Method of and means for modifying race coureses



Aug. 31, 1965 HENRY at G. T. CARMlCHAEL, JR 3,203,396

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR MODIFYING RACE COURSES Filed Oct. '7, 1965 2Sheets-Sheet 1 BY ME Slum/wk ATTORNEY METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR MODIFYINGRAGE COURSES Filed Oct. 7, 1965 Aug. 31, 1965 HENRY ST. G. T.CARMICHAEL, JR

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .lllll Fig. 9.

INVENTOR WWW] JZG fa/wr/c/me ATTORNEY 3,203,396 METHGD OF AND MEANS FGRMUDIFYING RACE COURSES Henry St. G. T. Carmichael, .lr., 424 W. 2nd St,Lexington, Ky. Filed Oct. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 314,469 7 Claims. (Cl.119-15.5)

This invention relates to an improved method of and means for modifyingthe usable racing area of a race course, and more particularly to racecourses on which horses are to race without the likelihood of injuryresulting from such modifications of the racing area.

A typical employment of the invention is found in turf racing andwherein the turf is subjected to excessive wear and tear if the innerboundary of the course remains unchanged. This problem has long beenrecognized and various attempts to solve the same have been proposed,but, so far as I am aware, all such attempts have been attended byvarious disadvantages, and which it is a purpose of this invention toovercome.

As will be understood, the invention is applicable to use with theconventional turf course for hurdles and Steeplechase racing, with turfcourses for flat racing, or with flat racing on dirt tracks. Forexample, when an inner boundary in the form of rails supported uponposts is employed, it has been the custom to form holes in the tracks orcourses to support those posts and thereafter to fill the holes withtrack material after the posts are removed. Not only is this a laboriousprocedure, but if some holes are inadequately filled, or not filled atall, a hazard exists for the horses later to run on the track. As isknown, the impact of a hoof of a racing horse places a tremendousloading on the ground at the point of impact and it is desirable thatthe track surface offer a substantially uniform, firm, and yet resilientresistance to the hoof at any point where such an impact may occur.

It is an object of the invention, therefore, to provide an improvedmethod and means for modifying the usable racing area of race courses ina manner which will insure suitable protection to horses racing on sucha modified course.

Another object is to provide an improved permanently emplaced means foruse in modifying the usable racing area of race courses and which, afteronce beinginstalled, may thereafter be used repeatedly with less laborthan required by conventional means.

Another object is to provide an improved plug member for safely coveringholes in racing courses and having an appearance and resistance to hoofimpact which does not disturb or injure horses racing on the course.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent as thedescription proceeds and when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a small portion of a race courseindicating the relative locations of a permanent and of a pair oftemporary inner boundaries therefor.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the posts and its rails insupported position and when serving as part of a temporary boundary forthe course.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of one of the groundembedded tubes.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view to a larger scale of the ground-embedded tube,flange member, and securing means.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and showing oneform of securing means.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of one of the groundembedded tubeswith the plug member in place thereon.

3,Z3 ,3% Patented Aug. 31, 1965 FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view to a largerscale of the plug member.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the plug member taken on line 88 of FIG.7.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the groundembedded tube with thepost supporting means in place thereon.

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view to a larger scale of the post supportingmeans, and

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of the groundembedded tube, postsupporting means, and post.

Considering first FIG. 1, a race course having a racing area generallyindicated at A will have a permanently fixed inner boundary It whichconventionally may be formed of a hedge, a series of fixed postsinterconnected by horizontal rails located about forty-six inches fromthe ground, or other means which serves as a reference boundary for thehorses and their riders during a race. In accordance with the method ofthe present invention, an arry 11 of generally vertically arrangedhollow tubes are embedded in the ground at a substantially uniformdistance outboard of the fixed boundary 10 and with their upper endsbeneath the surface of the ground. These tubes, after once beinginstalled, remain in place and serve to support a temporary boundarymeans, as later to be described, comprising an array 12 of demountablcposts and rails, which when in place, will remove the area A from racingusage. When the array 12 of posts and rails is removed in order to bringarea A back into racing usage, the open ends of the tubes are coveredwith special plug members, later to be described. When it is desired toremove more of the racing course than is represented by area A fromusage, a similar array 13 of tubes and a similar array 14 of posts andrails may be employed. In this arrangement, it will be understood thatonly one set of posts and rails will be used, and which, after theuncovering of the ends of the tubes of the array 13, are supportedthereon; the tubes of the first array 11 meanwhile having been recoveredto prevent extraneous material from entering the same. In general, themeasured distance for the race at many courses conforms to a path whichlies about three feet outboard of the fixed inner boundary It) andtherefore, the location of the array 11 of tubes will normally beseparated a greater distance from boundary 16 than from the second array13 of tubes. It is contemplated that a suitable template structure (notshown) will be employed in spotting the location of these tubes and, asan example, adjacent tubes in each array may be spaced nine feet apartand with adjacent arrays of tubes also being nine feet apart.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 5, a typical tube 20 having a uniforminternal diameter may be formed of a molded plastic material such aspolyvinyl chloride, and carries at its upper end a peripheral annularflange 21 integral therewith. Suitably fastened to this flange andprojecting above the upper surface thereof is a plurality of metallicstuds 22 having slot-engaging locking heads 23 spaced uniformly fromeach other around the flange. As alternative constructions, the flangeportion may comprise an annular metallic disc with integral metallicstuds and being bonded to an extruded plastic tube; or the entire tubeflange and stud arrangement may be made of metal. However, since theassembly will normally remain embedded in the ground for a period ofyears, I prefer to employ plastic material with its non-corrodiblecharacteristics for forming both the tube and flange structure. In theinitial installation of this structure a vertical hole is formed in theground with a suitable annular enlargement at the ground surface toaccommodate the flange of the tube and to permit the upper surface ofthat flange to be disposed a substantial distance, for example aboutfour inches, beneath the ground surface.

Adapted for engagement with the thus described structure and as bestshown in FIGS. 9 to 11 is a metallic postsupporting means, or stud,having an elongated lower portion 25 with an outer diameter slightlyless than the inner diameter of tube 20 and an elongated upper portion26 axially aligned with the lower portion and with an outer diameterslightly less than the inner diameter of the post 27 which is to besupported. At the junction of the upper and lower portions and rigidtherewith, a flat circular plate 28 is provided having a plurality ofkey-like slots 29 in its lower face as indicated by FIG. 10.

These slots at their enlarged portions are adapted to rereceive theheads 23 of the studs 22 and at their narrowed portions are adapted tolock the post-supporting means to the flange of the hollow tube afterthe post-supporting means is rotated through a small angle.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the post 27 which is conventional, may comprisea generally vertical tubular portion adapted to slip over thepost-supporting means and with its lower end resting loosely upon theupper surface of plate 28. Such a post preferably is formed of a plasticsuch as polyvinyl chloride and at its upper end includes an archedportion 30 supporting a horizontally arranged hollow coupling railreceiving member 31 to one side, for example, about twelve inchesdistance, from the vertical axis of the post. This coupling has aninternal diameter sufficiently large to receive for sliding movementtherein the ends of adjacent rails 32 and 33 which likewise preferablyare tubular and are formed of a plastic material such as polyvinylchloride. As will thus be apparent, when an appropriate number of posts27, with rails interconnecting adjacent posts, are installed in the formof the array 12 upon the array 11 of embedded tubes, a temporary innerboundary is formed for the race course and the area A will be removedfrom racing usage. The described posts and rails are strong enough towithstand the brushing of a horse or rider thereagainst due to theirsecure mounting upon the embedded tubes, and yet have sutficientresiliency to prevent injury to the horse or rider should normal contactoccur.

When it is desired to restore the area A to racing usage, a crew ofworkers with a vehicle containing the plug members, now to be described,moves alongside the array 12 and dismantles the same by removing thelight-Weight interconnecting rails and by lifting the posts 27 from thepost-supporting-means. Thereafter, at each station thepost-supporting-means is rotated to unlock the same from the flange ofthe embedded tube and the separated rail, post, andpost-supporting-means are loaded upon the vehicle. The open end of thethus uncovered tube is then capped as seen in FIG. 6 and this procedureis continued until the entire array 12 of posts and rails has beenremoved and the entire array 11 of tubes has been covered.

As a significant feature of the invention, 1 provide a special plugmember for use in this capping procedure and which comprises a thickpadportion 40 of resilient plastic material such as the material marketedunder the trademark Tartan by Minnesota Mining and ManufacturingCorporation. The pad 40, which may be in the order of three inches inthickness and of a configuration suitable to fill completely the hole inthe ground above the embedded tube and to leave the top of the pad levelwith the ground, is bonded on its lower surface to a flat metallic disc41 having slots 42 on its lower surface similar to the slots 29 in theabove-described plate 28 of the post-supporting-means. When this plugmember is turned :angularly with its slots in engagement with the studs22, it becomes locked in snug engagement with the flange of thestationary tube and should the hoof of a horse later strike the plugmember, the plug member will not become dislodged nor injure the horse.The plastic material com prising the pad portion 40 is colored toconform to the color of the grass race course or dirt race track onwhich it is employed; for example, a green, brown, or reddish hue, andaccordingly does not present a color discrepancy which might cause ahorse to shy.

Moreover, the plastic material forming the pad portion 40 is chosen tohave a resiliency generally equal to that of the sod or dirt comprisingthe turf race course or dirt track, and thus, does not establish hard orsoft spots in the area over which the horses are racing.

In general, the described arrays of embedded tubes will be locatedaround the entire periphery of the race course when the course is of anoval configuration. However, the invention is not limited to such anarrangement, and indeed may be used to establish a temporary boundaryonly at turns in the oval course, or even alongside a straight portionof a non-oval race course. Moreover, the invention may be employed inconnection with race courses other than those used for horse racing.

Having thus described the invention, with respect to a method and meansfor carrying out of the same, it will be understood that othermodifications of the same may be employed without departing from thetrue spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended, therefore, thatthe fore going disclosure is to be treated in an illustrative, ratherthan a limiting sense and that the invention is to be considered aslimited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In combination, a race course comprising an area of ground over whichthe contestants in a race normally pass, and means for temporarilyremoving said ground area from racing usage by adjustment of a boundaryof the race course and including, a hollow tube permanently embedded inthe ground area to be removed from racing usage and having a peripheralflange at its upper end disposed a substantial distance beneath thesurface of the ground, an elongated post-supporting-means having a lowerportion extending into said tube and an upper portion extending abovethe ground, means for detachably joining said post-supporting-means tosaid flange and comprising means for rotationally interlocking saidflange and said post-supporting-means through an interlockable stud andslot arrangement, a hollow post detachably supported by and surroundingsaid upper portion of said postsupporting-means, and a generallyhorizontal rail carried by said post and serving to define a portion ofthe boundary of said race course.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said stud is carried by saidflange and said slot is carried by said post-supporting-means.

3. In combination, a race course comprising an area of ground over whichhorses normally pass and which is periodically removed from racingusage, and means forming a portion of said area of race course andincluding a hollow tube permanently embedded vertically in the groundand having a peripheral flange at its upper end disposed a substantialdistance beneath the surface of the ground, a plug member covering theupper end of said tube and rendering the area adjacent said tubesuitable for racing, said plug member having a resilient upper portionadapted to lie generally flush with the surface of the ground and havingin its lower portion a means for detachably securing the plug member tosaid flange and comprising an interlockable stud and slot means, and a.

' post-supporting-means insertable in said hollow tube when said plugmember is removed and having securing means interlocking with one ofsaid interlockable means.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said stud is carried by saidflange and said slot is carried by said plug member.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said resilient upper portionof said plug member comprises plastic material having a colorsubstantially similar to the color of the ground surface surroundingsaid plug member.

6. The method for modifying the usable racing area of a race coursehaving a permanently fixed inner bound ary comprising, permanentlyembedding in the ground area at a substantially uniform distanceoutboard of said fixed boundary and in a ground area later to be usedfor racing a plurality of generally vertically arranged hollow tubeshaving their upper ends disposed a substantial distance beneath thesurface of the ground, partially inserting studs in said tubes,detachably supporting upon said studs and tubes a corresponding numberof generally vertically arranged hollow posts having rail meansconnecting adjacent posts on each side of the posts and serving toprovide a temporary inner boundary for said race course, thereby toremove from racing usage, while said posts are supported upon said studsand tubes, the ground area lying between said fixed and temporaryboundaries, and thereafter re-establishing for racing usage the groundarea previously removed from racing usage by removing said posts andrail means from their supported position upon said studs and tubes, andsaid studs from their position Within said tubes, and by replacing thesame With a corresponding number of resilient plugs detachably held inplace by said tubes and covering the upper ends thereof and having theirupper surfaces substantially level with said ground surface.

7. In combination a race course comprising an area of ground over whichcontestants in a race normally pass, and means for temporarily removingsaid ground area from racing usage by adjustment of a boundary of therace course and including, a hollow tube permanently embedded in theground area to be removed from racing usage and having a peripheralflange at it upper end disposed a substantial distance beneath thesurface of the ground, an elongated post-supporting-means having a lowerportion extending into said tube and an upper portion extending abovethe ground, means for detachably joining said post-supporting-means tosaid flange, a hollow post detachably supported by and surrounding saidupper portion of said post-supporting-means, and a generally horizontalrail-receiving member carried by said post and extending laterally ofsaid post and receiving adjacent rails serving to define a portion ofthe boundary of said race course.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 762,645 6/04 May256-32 1,523,221 1/25 Kendall 25624 1,965,639 7/34 Glass 18928 1,991,0872/35 Falcon 189-28 2,558,695 6/51 Unger 2856 2,847,683 8/58 Jordan 42953,099,247 7/63 Bieber 2725 X SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Examiner.

3. IN COMBINATION, A RACE COURSE COMPRISING AN AREA OF GROUND OVER WHICHHORSES NORMALLY PASS AND WHICH IS PERIODICALLY REMOVED FROM RACINGUSAGE, AND MEANS FORMING A PORTION OF SAID AREA OF RACE COURSE ANDINCLUDING A HOLLOW TUBE PERMANENTLY EMBEDDED VERTICALLY IN THE GROUNDAND HAVING A PERIPHERAL FLANGE AT ITS UPPER AND DISPOSED A SUBSTANTIALDISTANCE BENEATH THE SURFACE OF THE GROUND, A PLUG MEMBER COVERING THEUPPER END OF SAID TUBE AND RENDERING THE AREA ADJACENT SAID TUBESUITABLE FOR RACING, SAID PLUG MEMBER HAVING A RESILIENT UPPER PORTIONADAPTED TO LIE GENERALLY FLUSH WITH SURFACE OF THE GROUND AND HAVING INITS LOWER PORTION A MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING THE PLUG MEMBER TOSAID FLANGE AND COMPRISING AN INTERLOCKABLE STUD AND SLOT MEANS, AND APOST-SUPPORTING-MEANS INSERTABLE IN SAID HOLLOW TUBE WHEN SAID PLUGMEMBER IS REMOVED AND HAVING SECURING MEANS INTERLOCKING WITH ONE OFSAID INTERLOCKABLE MEANS.